Filtering apparatus



Jude-24',1930 w. NUGENT l 1,757,856'

FILTRING APPARATUS v illed'June 5o, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 3- Inventor @MACK dtfys.

Patented June 24, 1930 WIILLIAM W. NUGENT, 02E1` CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FILTRING APPARATUS Applicationv filed June 30,

This invention relates to filtering, apparatus adapted to remove impurities from a lubricant, particularly lubricatingV oil, and one of its objects is to provide aconstant flow filtering device in an automatic lubricating system..

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a filtering apparatus, means for heating the fluid to that temperature required to kill disease germs therein.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 142,241, filed October 18, 1926, which isa division of this application, I have shown and claimed the filter element and its mounting.

A further object of the invention'is to provide means for separately removing, first the large particles of impurities and later the smaller particles.

Another' object of the Ainvention is to pro'- vide heat-for reducing. the viscosity of 'fluidsx such as oils, before subjecting the same to the filtering operation, thereby eirpediting.

the' rate of 'filtration Another object ofthe invention isto' provide a. filtering. device comprising a. plubeing adapted to. be removed and cleaned withoutk impairing theoperation' of'.y the remain-ing. members.

theV rate ofiiow of` oil fromthe operating chamber.

Other objects ofthe invention will appear hereinafter, the novel featuresand combi'- nations. beingl setv forth in they appended claims.

1924. SeralNO. 723,158:

Referring to the accompanying. draw-V 1n s* v ig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my. improved filtering apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an outside end elevational view.' of the filtering apparatus showing, Some of the interior compartments by dotted lines;

Fig. 3 isy an elevation ofv an adjustableI overflow device embodied in my invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the adjustable overflow shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the filteringV mechanism embodying my invention wherein a portion of the cover to the same is broken away to expose underlying parts;

Fig. 6 is alongitudinal sectional plan viewv taken on line 6 6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a central transverse sectional View taken on line 7-7 ofrFig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8' is an enlarged plan view of a* pivoted oil drip extension; g

ig. 9 is an enlarged elevation, partly infv section, of alarm mechanism suitable for use in theapparatus shown inFigs. 1 and 2.;

Fig. l0 is a front elevation of the alarm mechanism shown in Fig. 9 ;y and' Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detail viewsof theimproveddetachable l'ilter bags, one of which' v is shown in elevation in Fig.- 1. Referring to Fig. 1 itw-ill be' seen that-a cabinet or casing l made of suitable metalv `surrounds and contains the. filtering.l and separating mechanisml embodied inY my in-y vention. The cabinet is supported andfele vated fromtheV floor by short sheet I netalr` legs2 made integral with ltherbase portion 3.-'- lrectangular compartment 4 eXtendingLthe full length `of the cabinet, as-shown in Fig.V 5, has permanently-attached thereto ini any suitable manner klongitudinal angle'. strips; 110 and .111 to r'emovablysupport 'suchcabi-f net in a rectangular openingin the top of the casing., 1.` They compartment 4'protrudes-` above the cabinet 1 and comprises two sheet metal ends 5, a top comprising avmetal stripv 6with a cover 7 hinged thereto, andtwo sheet metal walls v8, 8. Y The compartmentl is locatedfat-the'fy rearY portion of the top of casing 1 and is adapted to receive the incoming unfiltered oil through the fill opening 9 in the metal strip 6. It will be seen that the opening 9 is located centrally with respect to the length of the compartment 4 and back of the hinged cover 7. The top of the cabinet 1 comprises the bottom 10 of the compartment 4 and a cover 1l hinged in front of said compartment 4. This hinged portion or cover'11 may be lifted so as to permit inspection or adjustment of the lter devices contained in the tank 1.

The compartment 4 is substantially partitioned into two spaces by a longitudinally 5 extending double filter 16. The filtering mechanism comprises spaced-apart walls of reticulated metal between which is placed removable filtering material consisting of any porous materlal having good filtering properties. It will be seen that this preliminary filtration is to remove the large, coarse particles of impurities. Thus it is advisable to employ. only filtering material having large pores. By first removing the large, coarse particles and later removing the finer 'mpurities, as hereinafter described, it is possible to increase the speed and rapidity of filtration.

Longitudinal filters 16-16 rest upon the bottom 10 of the compartment 4 and engaging the ends 14-15 of said compartment as Y shown in Fig. 6. Ay rectangular transverse slot 17 located centrally with respect to the length of said filter wall 16-16 is provided in thebottom of the same and extends through the entire thickness thereof. A rectangular trough 18 preferably consisting of sheet metal extends through the slots 17-17 and communicates with a vertically extend- 4o ing threaded nipple 29 fitting into the upper end of the lpipe 19. The filter wall 16 eX- tends vertically to a-height slightly below the top of the compartment 4 and tightly engages the bottom 16 of the compartment 4 at all points except at the slots 17-17 where a liquid tight engagement is provided between the filter members 16-16 and the sides and ends of the trough 18. The ends 21-21 and 22e-22 of the filter walls 16-*16 5o also tightly engage the ends 14 and 15 of the compartment 4 respectively. Thus it is seen that the only passage available for the unfiltered lubricant that enters the back chamber 23 through the intake opening 9 to the Y same, is through the pores of the filter mem- '3 bers 16-16. It will further be seen that the fluid portion and some of the small solid particles of thecontaminated mixture passes through the filter members 16-16 and into the front chamber 24 of the casing 4.

hinged to the uppermost removable section ofthe filtering apparatus in such position that when open and moved back the liquid 'to beifiltered may be poured into the chamy lIt should be noted that the cover 7 isY ber 23 back of the upright filter walls 16, 16. Furthermore, the cover 7 may be opened whenever desired to permit inspection of the ltering material in the filter walls 16, 16 and the replenishing of the filtering material between the reticulated walls when such filtering material becomes so clogged with impurities that the rate of flowv through the filter walls falls below the desired amount.

The steam coil 25 is provided in the back chamber 23 of the casing 4 and is supplied by means of external attachments 26 and 27 with a current of live steam. purposes of the steam heating coil is to raise the temperature of the contaminated mixture to a degree high enough to kill allvdisease germs present in said mixture. This feature is especially desirable when the reclaimed oil is to be purified and used fol' lathe turning and similar work where workmen are continually subjected to serious infections in slight cuts and bruises on their' hands. The steam heating coil is also applied to heat the mixture so as to reduce the viscosity of the lubricant and thus to expedite the filtrationof the same. The oilV in the upper chamber is preferably heated to a temperature of about 170 degrees F. to effect complete destruction of all disease germs and bacteria therein. f

In Fig. 7 is shown the trough 18 communicating with the opening 2() at the top Vend of the threaded nipple 29. The threaded nipple 29 is screw-threaded through the bottom 10 of the casing 4 into the space provided by the trough 18 and fits loosely into the upper end of the pipe 19 which is clamped at 122 to the rear wall 123 ofthe main tank.

As shown in Fig. 1, the filtering members 16-16 do not extend vertically to the top of the casing 4, and to prevent overflowing of the contaminated mixture into the front chamber 24 of the casing 4, an overflow pipe 28 is provided. rlhe overflow pipe 28 is a short vertically extending pipe located at the end of the casing 4 apart from the steam coil attachments 26 and 27.

The top open end 30 of the overflow pipeextends vertically to a height slightly below the top of the filter members 16-16. The bottom end 31 of the overflow pipe 28 -comniunicates with a small receiving chamber 32 located directly below the open end 31 of the overflow pipe 28. The bottom end 31 extends below the bottom 10 to direct drip-` ping oil downwardly and prevent it spreading over the bottom of the casing 4. Thus it will be seen that in the event that the filter members 16-16 become clogged the dirty, contaminated mixture cannot lflow over the tops of the filter members 16-16 but will be directed into the receiving chamber 32 at the end of the cabinet 1, fromy which it will flow through a short hori'- zontal pipe 34 into a general overflow One of the trough 33 as shown in F ig. 1. The overflowing lubricant is thence conductedrto overflow alarmwmechanism as hereinafter described.

The mixture passing through the trough 18 and into the vertically extending pipe 19 comprises oil, water and fine particles of impurities, the larger solid particles having been removed by the lilte'r members 1G-16. The mixture of oil, water and fine solid particles passes down a'vertically extending tube 19 into a horizontally extending distributing tube 36. The horizontally extending tube or pipe 86 is attached at its central portion to the vertically extending pipe 19 by a T connection. This horizontally extending pipe 36 is located in a water separating chamber 37 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and is closed at its ends but provided with perforations 38 throughout its length for communication with said water separating chamber. Thus it will be seen that the mixture of oil, water and solid particles after being subjected to Va preliminary tiltration is ejected through the holes 38 into the bottom of the water separating chamber 87. entire length of the tank' 1 and is located at the bottom of the same. It comprises a front wall 39 pre'terably of sheet metal which is secured to the ends 40 and 41, respectively of the tank 1. Near the lower portion of the sheet metal comprising the front wall 39, the same is bent to provide a slanting bottom 43 to the water separating chamber 37. The bottom edge -44 of the sheet metal, comprising the front wall 39 and the bottom 43 of the water separating' chamber, is disposed between the sheet metal comprising the back wall 29 of the tank 1 and an angular met-al brace 45.

The oil and water entering the water separating chamber 37 through the perforations 38 each carries considerable solid material.

v In this separating chamber 37 the oil, due` to its lower specilic gravity, rises and forms a continuous layer on the topV of the water. The water and the oil eachretain a portion of the total solid material. That solid which .is retained by they water is` carried away or is deposited at the bottom of the separating chamber 87. The solid materialretained by the oil is removed as hereinafter described.l The sediment which collects in the bottom of the water separating chamber at 112 may be removed lby inserting a cleaning tool through the opening 113y when the valve 114 is open. A

As shown inpFig. 2, a pipe 4G connects the water overflow chamber 47 with the water separating chamber 37. The wat-er overflow chamber 47 is located externally with respect to the cabinet 1 and is attachedy thereto, one wall of the Ichamber 47 engaginge portion of the end 40 of the tank 1.

This separating chamber extends the The pipe 46 extends through the bottom 48 or the water overiiowchamber 47 andy is tightly fastened thereto so as to provide a water tight joint. An extension 49 of the pipe 46 protrudes within the water overflow chamber 47 and is equipped with an adjustable overflow attachment 50. In Figs. 3 and 4 this adjustable overliow 50 is shown to consist of a cap 51 adjustably threaded on the pipe extension 49. The cap 51 is threaded internally to engage the threadedportion of the pipe 49. This cap is provided with atop 52 made integral with the threaded portion 53 and is provided with openingsA 54-.54. Extensions of the threaded sides 53 of the cap protrude over the openin s 54-f54 and are provided each with two at edges 56-56 adapted to be engaged by a wrench or other turning tool. Thus it will be seen that the openings 54-54 in the cap 51 can be changed in elevation by screwing the cap 51 upwards or downwards as desired. A drain pipe 58, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured to the bottom of the water overflow chamber47 and opens into said chamber. The drain pipe 58 is adapted to carry away the water and dirt that flows flow chamber 47.

It has been pointed out that the oil in the water separating chamber 37 rises and forms a layer on top of the water. Some of the water rises within the pipe 46 which is attached externally to the water separating chamber 37 and opens thereinto. Thus there is a column of water within the pipe Y46 balanced by a combined column of water and a layer of oil. having a lower specific gravity than water, would weigh less umn of oil and water would necessarily be higher than the balancing column of water alone.y This principle is applied in causing the oill layer on the top of the water to How over into the water overover the edge 59 of the weir 60. The weir GO is located at the upper end of the front wall 39 of the water separating chamber 37.A This weir has in front of ita rectangular trough-shaped chamber `61 extending the entire length of the tank 1 and is adaptedv to receive the oil as it flows over the'top edge 59 of the weir 60. It will be seen referring to Fig. l that the weir trough 61 is smaller than the general loverilow trough' tends the entire length oi the cabinet orA tank 1 and thus provides a longwei'rthat is capable of delivering large quantities of oil even though the layer passing over it is very shallow. It is highly desirable to havel this layer of oil shallow because the impuri- It is well known that oil,

and that the combined colf'.V

i over the weir 60 can be regulated as desired by raising or lowering the adjustable overflow50. When the cap 51 is screwed upwards the overflow edges 57-57 shown in Fig. 4 are raised and a higher columnrof water is retained in the pipe 46, resulting in a correspondingly higher column of water in the water separating chamber 37. Since the height of the edge 59 of the weir 60 is fixed it is evident that the thickness or depth of the layer of oil at the edge 59 may be regulated by adjusting the height of the cap 51. The overflow edges 57 should be lower than the height of the weir edge 59, because the operation is based on the prin- .,ciple of thel U-tube, one column of which has the layer of oil iioating at the edge 59 and the other column of which is entirely water with its upper end at the edges 57. When the columnsI of liquid are in a state ,of equilibrium the water column beneath the edges. 57 balances the other column beneath the edge 59 comprising the layer of oil and the water beneath it. Now as the mixture of oil and water comes into the separating chamber 39 the water overflows the edges 57 and theV oil rises to the edge 59 and overflows this edge into the weir trough 61. It can readily be Yseen that when the cap 51 is lowered the water column beneath the overflow edges 57 is ydecreased in depth and this tends to decrease the depth of the water in the other column beneath the edge 59 and therefore the depth of the oil beneath the edge 59 is increased when the overiiow edges 57 are lowered. When the weir edge 59 is approximately horizontal the cap 5lvmay be moved upwardly'so as to decrease the depth of the layer of oil at the weir edge 59. In this manner the depth ofthe layer of oil flowing over the weir 60- may be regulated. The capacity is large on account of the length of the weir notwith- I f standing the shallow depth of the overflowing area. VA plurality of filtering bags 62 are provided within the front portion of the cabinet or tank'l. The `filter bags 62 are shown in Figs. 11 and 12jto be suspended from an elongated open frame 63 and to Vbe restrained from bulging by a plurality of U-shaped metal loops or slings 64 secured at their upper endsto the frame 63 at 65. The upper ends'of the U-shaped slings 64 are detachably connected to the frame 63 by means of the nuts 66-66, one above a G5 projection of the frame 63 and theother below said projection, both nuts engaging the same.

Extending around the frame 63 is an endless groove 67 to form keyways on the latable receptacle s uch as a pail having clean-k ing fluid therein for such purpose. This may be readily done by lifting out each filter element individually. The bags may thus be cleaned many times without removing them from the frames before they are worn out, after which a new bag may replace a worn out one by pulling the same from the position shown in Fig. 12 to position en'- closing the lower portion'of the frame 63. A wire or string 117 may then be tied around the open edge of the bag 62 in a position adapted to force a portion of the bag near its upper end into the groove 67. Two keys of the type shown in Fig. 13 may then be inserted so as to engage the exterior sides of the cloth comprising the upperY edge of the bag; one key being inserted on each side of the frame 63. The keys are adapted to engage the VU-shaped members 64 and are thus maintained tightly in contact with the cloth comprising the bag.

YThe frame 63 comprises two longitudinal sides V70--70 and two roundedends 71-471 to the inner side of the front wall 75 of the .tank 1. Thenspout 73 is adapted toV rest upon the top edgev 76 of the front wall 77 of the general overflow trough 33. lt will be seen vthat the spout 7 3.is adapted to direct the oil,A that may overflow from the bag 62,.into the general overflow trough33 as well'as to cooperate with the bracket 72 insupporting the frame and bag. Thus `125 loss of oil at such times when the bags be-VV provision is made for preventing wasteful come incapacitated and also prevents the mixing of unlilteredoil with filtered oil.

ln my co-pending application, Serial No.

55,683, filed September 11, 1925, I have The part 80 is shown, .described and lclaimed the filter ele- `ment construction shown in Fig. l2, to `eether ywith Ythemeans on the frames of the filter elements for ,spacing the bags a pre- .letermined distance'apart and holdingthe frames in 'position where they vwill register with intake openings from the source of supply of the oil or lubricant for the filter elements.

Referring again to Fig. 1,it is seen that the oil after being separated from the water Vflows from the weir 60 and into the weir trough 61. From vthe weir trough 61 4the oil is conveyed through a pivoted oil drip extension `7 8, which communicates with the Weir trough 61 and is secured to the front wall of' the same. An enlarged plan view of the pivoted oil drip extension 78 is shown in Fig. 8 wherein the two portions 79 and 80 `of. said extension are shown assembled and held togetherby the spring clamp 81. The part 80 of the extension 78 is provided with threads 83 and is adapted to be screwed into the nut 82 shown in Figs. 1 and 5. in reality a pipe. AA recess is provided in the sides surrounding Vthe inner open end of the pipe 80 to engage a shoulder 84 made integral with the portion 79 of the extension. The surfaces of the two portions 80 and 84 which engage each other are machined true and smooth so as to afford a jleak proof' pivoted extension having the portion 80 adapted to remain fixed and the portion 79 adapted to be raised into a vertical position as shown by the dotted line at 85 of Fig. 1. When the bag 62 is inplace the movable portion 79-of the extension 78 may be lowered from the position shown as 85 of Fig. 1 to the position shown at 78 of the same View. Thus it is possible to stop the flow of 4oil through the oil drip extension ,by rotating .the portion 79 of the same into a vertical position, Vand .by so doing the flow into any desired bag maybe stopped Vso that such bag maybe removed and replaced without impairing the operation ofthe filtering apparatus as a whole.

The general overfiow trough 33 as shown in Fig. 1 is located'jin such a position that it can receive the overflow fromthe compartment 23 in the upper casing aback of the vfilter members 16-16.k The trough 88 falso receives the overflow from the weir trough 61 when the flow vof oil into thev system is excessive and the trough 83 isfada'pted to receive the overflow lfrom the filter lbags (32 when the same are not working properly. Thus provision is made to take care of all the oil that escapes.

The overflow pipe v86 communicates withthe trough 33 and is located externally with respect zto the cabinet or tank 1. This pipe 8611s provided to carry away `the oil kfrom the ,trough .A downwardly projecting branch pipe 87 is provided as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 to deliver .some of the oil from the .pipe 86.to the overflow alarm mechanism 90. The vertical pipe 87 communicates with the chamber 89 wherein a pivotally mounted pan 95 having la counterbalancing arm 97 is positioned vto receive the voil 4discharged from the pipe 87. The pan 95 is located directly below an opening 98 in the pipe 87. Thus it will ybe seen that some of the overflow fluid from the general overflow trough 33 will flow through the vertical pipe 87 into the pan 95. The additional weight of the liquid in the pan 95 causes the sameto be tilted down on the pivot 118 and also causes the counter-balancing arm 97 to be tilted upwards and to engage an insulated electric contact 121. The contact 121 is mounted yon and extends through the top wall 99 of the rectangular box 89 and is electrically insulated from the same by insulation 100. This contact 121 is provided with a binding post which is electrically connected by a wire 101 to a terminal 102 of the electric bell mechanism 91. Thus it will be seen that normally the pan 95 is up and that the arm 97 is down with the bell circuit broken, but when the pan 95 receives oil from the pipe 87 the arm 97 attached to said pan establishes an electric contact ywith the binding post 121 completing an electric circuit from the vterminal 93 of the dry cell 88through the bell 91, switches 97, 1217 and through the metal casing 99 to the outer terminal 94-of the dry cell. This causes the bell to ring to give an audible signal to warn attendants that the filtering device needs attention.

The source ofelectricity for the electric alarm mechanism or signalling mechanism may be a bell ringing transformer substituted for the dry cell if desired.

A restricted opening or hole 108 is provided in the bottom of the pan 95 to slowly drain the oil from the same. Therefore when the necessary adjustments have been made in the filter apparatus the supply of oil `to the ypanv95 will be discontinued and the oil in this pan will be slowly drained through the hole 103.r The pan will then again resume its normal position automatically and the bell 91 will discontinue to ring. lWhen the oil leaves the pan 95 it is collected in the bottom portion of the box 89 and from there it is returned to the large pipe 86 by means of a lower branch pipe 104 ofthe lpipe 87 which opens into the box 89 through its bottom wall 105. It will thus be seen that the fluid actuated mechanism for theautomatic overiiow alarm is in a by-pas's comprising the branch pipes 87 and 104.

1When all the parts of the filtering mechanism are operating properly the incoming oil, water and impurities enter through the Cil opening 9 into the top casing l and a mixture of water, oil and some finer impurities pass through the filter members 16-16, the

larger particles being filtered out by the fil-V Y passing into pipe 19 the oil passes into the horizontally extending pipe 86 and is distributed by perforations 88 throughout the length of the compartment 87 which is the water separating chamber. 1n the latter the oil rises and forms a layer on the top of the water. The oil passes ovey the edge 59 of the Weir G and into the weir trough 61, while the water rises in the externally attached pipe 16, and flows through the adjustable overflow into the water overflow chamber 17 to be carried away by the drain pipe 58.

From the trough 61 the oil is conveyed through the respective pivoted oil drip eX- tensions 78 to the filtervbags 62. rThe oil isthen filtered by the cloth Vbags and flows into the lower storage compartment 108 of the cabinet 1. Two sight gauges 107, 107 are provided on the front of the cabinet 1, one located in a position adapted'to indicate the height of the oil in the lower compartment 108 and the other to indicate the height of the oil when the same rises into the upper portion 109 of the cabinet 1.

. Two such gauges each comparatively short,

are preferable to a long gauge, because a 'long gauge comprising a long tube of glass,

is more likely to be broken-when the front wall of the tank bends or bulges when filled with filtered oil. By providing two separate gauges at different elevations each may be made shorter and therefore the glass tube will not be broken when the sheet metal front wall bends adjacent the gauges.

Thilo the top casing l may be permanently secured to the top of the'VV Ycabinet or tank 1, it is preferable to provide the longi- 1 tudinal anglev strips 110 and 111V as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, to supportY the casing e detachably in position. The casing 4;, may

thereforebereadily Vremoved to facilitate inspection when the bottoni ofthe separatfcc Vingchamber-37 at 112 insert'ng a tool that purpose Kthrough the opening 118 at oneend of the trough 112.

It will alsobe noted-that a suitable receptacle such Vas a pail may beV provided for Vreceiving the overflowing oil from the pipe 86Vso that this oil mayv be poured into thel compartment 24 of the top casinge after .lifting the cover @C A therinoiieter may be located at 119 as shown in Fig. 2, so that the flow' of thevsteam into the Ypipe 25 in the'top casing maybe regulated for the externally located pipes 79 cannot oil from the trough 61 asfast as the oil is is to be cleaned by Y purpose of killing germs in vcontaminated oil received at the intake 9 and also to regulate the viscosity so that flow and filtration may be facilitated. eating system it is desirable to have the oil cooled before being supplied to the parts toY be lubricated, and for this purpose cooling pipes may be supplied in the lower storage supply compartment 108. Thus the cool oil is far away from the warm oil. It-will also be seen by oil is not taken from the storage compartment 108 as fast as the oil is filtered the oil will gradually rise in the compartment 109. The rise of the oil in compartment 109 is limited, however, and cannot continue to suoli an extent as to let unfiltered oil into the compartment lWhen the depth of theroil in the conipartment 109 reaches the upper edge of the trough 88 such oil will flow into such trough and thence to the overflow alarm mechanism. This arrangement also prevents overflowfroin the ltering apparatus on to the floor when the incoming oil greatly exceeds the amount taken from the supply compartment 108 by way of the exit opening 120. l Y

As showncin Fig. 5, the filter elements 68 are individually supported and individually removable and there is a multiplicity of such filter elements. Before a filter element is removed its feed pipe 7 9 is turned up as shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 1 at 85. Now/'if such a number of the feed pipes 79 should be required to be turned up that the remaining take the received therein, the overfiowing oil will be received in the trough 88 and thence flow into the overflow alarm mechanism to operate the latter. The front wall of the trough 61 is disposed distant from the front wall 77 of the trough 83 so that the front wall of the trough 61 may support the series of hinged overflow extensions 7 8 independently of the wall 77K.

In"V an automatic lubriiio y From the foregoing itwill be seen that Y the filtering apparatus comprises anupper compartment 8 in whichis located the 'pipes 25 for performingV the double function of not only reducing the viscosity of the mixture of lubricant and impurities,-but also to st'erilizer the same. The upperl detachable vcompartment 8 contains gravity filtering Y mechanism comprising the 'filterV wall VV16".

izo

The larger portions of the solidimpurities v are removed by the filter wall 16 after which the /miXture passes by gravity through the trough or passageway 18 into the'depending A pipe V19 and thence through the perforations 88 into the water separating chamber Y89.

The oilV floats tothetop and fiowsover the i edge 59 but on accountof-thesmall depth of the' layer of -oil on the water in the cham-VY ber 39 the weir edge'assists in causing additional particles of impurities to be eliminated from they oil and settle to the bottom Wall 43 of the water separating chamber.

' The filtering apparatus is portable and I comprises a tank or receptacle mounted on thev base'or support 3 having the metal legs 2. The angular metal brace 45 is entirely open, as shown in Fig. 1, so that there will be a, free flow from the filter bags in the compartment 109 into the compartment 108. During normal operation the compartment 108 constitutes an oil reservoir mounted on the support 3 and the depth of the oil in this reservoir may be determined by inspec` .tion of the lower gauge 107. The upper gauge 107 is for the purpose of determining whether the oil in the tank, casing orcabinet 1 has reached such a depth as to submerge the filter bags. Inasinuch as it is desired to use this filtering apparatus in an automatic lubricating system provision is made to prevent the oil in the tank 1 from spilling out onto the floor. Such spilling is prevented by locating the overflow trough 33 beneath the upper edge of the tank 1. When the oil in the tank reaches the height of the edge 76 it Will fiow into the trough 33 and thence into the pipe 86 and when this occurs oil will flow through the by-pass pipe 87 and operate the alarm or signalling mechanism. If the filter Walls 16- should become clogged and the oil in the receptacle 4 reaches such a depth that it will overflow the standpipe 28 the oil Will fiow from the receptacle 4 into the compartment 32 and thence through the pipe 34 into the trough 33 and operate the alarm mechanism. Furthermore, if 'the rate of flow of the oil over the rear edge 59 into the trough 6l is greater than the capacity of the filtering mechanism or when too many of the eX- tensions 78 are moved to upright positions, the oil will overfiow the Weir trough 6l into the trough 33 and thence Ibe directed to the -g alarm'mechanism. Furthermore, if any of the filter bags becomesol clogged with impurities that they Will not filter the oil as fastas it is received bythe extensions 78 the oil Will overflow the spouts 7 3y under the extension 79 into. the troughy 33 and thence be directedl to the alarm` operating mechanism. It can readily be seen by referring to Figs. 8 and 11 that theouter'circumferentially flanged end ofthe extension 79 will rest on the edges 70 of the` elongated bag holder thereby affording sufficient space underneath the extension 79 for the oil tov flow from the spout 73 into the trough 33 when the oil overflows afilter bag.

When the alarm or signalling mechanism is operated it can readily be determined' by openingl the covers-7 and 11 what causedv the alarm or signa-lling mechanism tooperate.: If one ofthe; filteringba s needs attentiony theV hinged extension 9 Y may' be moved to upright position, as shown in Fig. 1, there being sufficient space provided for this purpose and when the extension is in its upright' position it cannot overflow because its upper end is spaced above the weir trough 61. As shown in Fig. 5, each of the lter bags is separately removable and their frames are so constructed that they-may be moved against each other so as to properly space them with respect to the hinged feed pipes 79.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes inthe details and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and it is therefore desired not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully described and shown an embodiment of the invention, what I desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a combined filtering and sterilizing apparatus for used lubricating oils, a receptacle into which the contaminated oil is introduced, means in said receptacle for raising the temperature of the oil to a degree sufiicient to steriliZe the same, means also associated with said receptacle for effecting a preliminary filtering of the oil, a watereseparating receptacle into which the oil is introduced from said first-named receptacle, means in said water-separating receptacle for separating the water from the oil by fiotation, and means for varying the depth of the water in the Water-separating receptacle to regulate the flow of the oil separated therefrom.

2. In oil cleaning apparatus, the combination with Water separating mechanism comprising a water separating chamber, of an elongated overflow Weir for the oil fioating on the Water in said chamber, and. adjustable mechanism in thel water separating chamber for maintaining and regulating a shallow depth of oil on the water adjacent said Weir to cause the oil` to fiow over the Weir acting as a dam against largerI sized solid impurities in the oil.

3. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a casing for receiving filtered oil, of a removable filter element mounted in said casing, and mechanism comprising a pivoted pipe for directing liquid to said filter element when mounted in said casing, said pivoted pipe being adapted to be moved to an upright position to stop the fiow of the liquid therefrom while said ltcr element is removed from said casing.

4. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a receiving compartment, of an upright filter wall for filtering the material flowing therethrough from said compart-l ment, a stand-pipe, in said compartment with its upper open end at ay levelless' vthan the height of said wall to receive the liquid before it overflows said wall, and means for receiving and directing to a predetermined position the liquid flowing into such standpipe.

5. In apparatus for cleaning oil, the combination with an oil reservoir, of filtering mechanism therein, means within the upper portion of said reservoir for preventing the depth of oil therein from exceeding a predetermined amount, Y and signaling mechanism adapted to be operated by oil flowing into such preventing means to indicate the tendency of the oil to overflow said reservoir. Y

6. In oil cleaning apparatus, the combination with an upper receiving compartment, of a filter wall therein, and an oil passageway for directing the oil after passing through said filter beneath the latter and thence to a position at the rear under side of said compartment.

7. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a filter element, of means for remov ably supporting the same in filtering posis tion, and a hinged nozzle associated with said filter' element and movable to an upright non-flowing position during removal of the filter element.

8. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a filter element, of means for supporting the same, a hinged pipe adjustable to position to direct liquid to said filter element, and means for directing overflow from said filter element.

9. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a filter element, of means for supporting said element, said supporting means comprising an edge of a trough at one end of said filter element, an adjustable device for directing liquid to said filter element, and means at one end of said filter element under said device for directing overflow from said lter element to said trough.

10. Oil cleaning apparatus comprising a weir, a weir trough, means for directing oil from said trough, overflow indicating mechanism, and means in position to receive overflow from said weir trough and direct such overflow to operate said overflow indicating mechanism.

11. Oil cleaning apparatus comprising an elongated weir, an elongated weir trough, means for directing oil from said trough, an additional elongated trough under said firstnamed trough in position to recive oil overflowing from the latter, and mechanism for directing the overflowing oil to a predetermined position.

12. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a plurality of individually removable filter elements, of a source of supply for said filter elements, and a plurality of directing pipes one for each of said filter elements and each movable to operative and inoperative positions'relative to directing oil from said source of supply to said filter elements.

13. In filtering apparatus, the combination Ywith filtering mechanism, of an overflow liquid in said compartment and receivingk overflow therefrom, water-separating mech-Y anism, means for directing oil from said water-separating mechanism, additional filtering mechanism, means for receiving overflow from said additional filtering mechanism, and overflow indicating mechanism operable by the oil overflowing either from said receiving compartment or from 'said additional filtering mechanism.

15. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a plurality of individually removable filter elements, of a plurality of nozzles each pivoted on a horizontal axis and respectively associated with the filter elements and each movable to an upright non-flowing position during removal of the corresponding filter element, and means for directing flow of liquid to said nozzles and through the latter to the corresponding filter elements when the nozzles are in flowing positions.

16. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a plurality of removable filter elements, of a plurality of pipes for directing' liquid into said lter elements, and hinged supports for said pipes to permit each of the latterV to be swung upwardly to interrupt the flow therefrom to its filter element.

17. In filtering apparatus, the combinaV tion with a chamber, of an elongated' weir for directing liquidfrom said chamber, an elongated trough associated with said weir, filtering mechanism, and multiple directing means from said elongated trough to said filtering mechanism.

f 18.' In filtering apparatus, the combination Y with an elongated trough for receiving liquid, of a plurality of pipes connected to said trough, and a plurality of filter elements supported in position for respectively receiving liquid from said pipes.

19. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a trough, of a filtering element, means for directing liquid from said trough to said filtering element, an overflow trough, means for directing overflow from said filtering element into said overflow trough, and mechanism for supporting said first named trough in position to direct overflow therefrom into said overflow trough.

20. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a receiving trough, of an overflow trough, a filter element with one end thereof supported on the edge of said overflow trough, means for directing overflow from said filtering element to said overflow trough, means for directing liquid from said first-named trough to said filter element, and mechanism for mounting said first-named trough in position to direct overflow therefrom to said overflow trough.

2l. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for receiving filtered lubricating material, of receiving means for lubricating material to be filtered, mechanism for filtering and mechanism for directing the filtered lubricantv into said receptacle, and an overflow trough in said receptacle for limiting the depth of the lubricant in said receptacle and preventing overflow of such lubricant from the receptacle.

22. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for receiving filtered lubricant, of water separating mechanism comprising a water separating chamber in the upper portion of said receptacle, an elongated trough in said receptacle, an elongated weir for directing separated lubricant from said water separating chamber into said elongated trough, an overflow trough in said receptacle below said first-named trough, a plurality of removable filter elements, means for supporting said filter elements in said receptacle, mechanism for directing overflow fromsaid filter elements into said overflow trough, a plurality of pipes one for each of said filter elements, and hinged connections between said pipes and said first-named trough to permit cach pipe individually to be swung up to interrupt the flow of lubricant from said first-named trough to its corresponding filter element when the latter is to be removed from said receptacle.

28. In oil cleaning apparatus, the combination with a top compartment adapted to receive a mixture of lubricant and impurities, of a filter in said receiving compartment, means for limiting the depth of liquid in said receiving compartment and directing overflow therefrom before such liquid overflows said filter, water-separating mechanism comprising an elongated weir, a Weir trough, additional filtering mechanism, means for directing oil from said Weir trough to said additional filtering mechanism, an overflow trough in position to receive overflow either from said weir trough or from said additional filtering mechanism, connections for directing overflow from said receiving compartment to said overflow trough, and overfiow indicating operable by liquid received by said'- overuo'w' nought@ indias-"te eigener overflow from saidre'ceiving compartment or from said-weir trough or`- from said@ additional filtering l'iechl'iiSF-Ii'.' v

24. filtering apparatus, the combination' with at plurality of individual removabl'e' filterl elements, of a plurality kof hinged pipes one for each ofv said'` filter elements and each" adapted' to be swung into upright and inoperative positions", and means for supporting said filter elements in pb'sitin to register with' said pipes when thev latter are* in their lower and operativepos'itions 25. In filtering appara-t'usf,l the combinati'ony with a plurality' ofv individual removable filter elements", 'of a' plurality of' hinged pipesv one'for each of said filter elements and ea'cl'i' adapted'l tobe` moved into operative inoperative positions', and a trough: t*l which said' jgif'pesy are' connected to""s`erve1 a's* al sburce of multiple supply therefor. f 26; In filtering apparatus, the combination with plurality of individual removable filter elements, of an overfiow trough-over'- fiowspou'ts for directing liquid from said filter elements to said overflow trough, an intake trough, a plurality of hinged nozzles for directing liquid from said intake trough to said filter elements, said members being individually movable to uprght non-flowing positions during removal of corresponding filter element, and means for supporting the yends of the filter elements remote from the overflow spouts in position to receive liquid from said nozzles when the latter are down in flowing positions.

27. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for containing filtered lubricant, of filtering mechanism comprising a plurality of individual removable filtering elements, means for limiting the depth of lubricant in said receptacle and also receiving overow from any of said filter elements, and overflow alarm mechanism for indicating either the overflow from any of said filter elements or that the lubricant in said receptacle has reached a predetermined depth.

28. In filtering apparatus, the combina- A tion with preliminary filtering mechanism l' for removing the coarser ingredients from the lubricant to be filtered, of additional filtering mechanism for removing the finer ingredients from the lubricant, and mechanism for giving an indication when the capacity of the preliminary filtering mechanism is being exceeded.

29. In filtering apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for containing filtered oil, of primary filtering mechanism, water separating apparatus in said receptacle in position to receive a lubricant from said primary filtering mechanism, an elongated trough, a Weir for directing a film of oil vfrom said Water separating apparatus to Y, said elongated trough, auxiliary filtering mechanism mechanism in said receptacle, means for directing the oil from said elongated trough to said auxiliary filtering mechanism, an

overiow trough in positionV to receive oil from said receptacle when the depth therein exceeds a certain predetermined amount, said overflow trough also being in position to receive overiiow from said auxiliary fi tering mechanism and also from said elongated trough, connections for directing overflow from said primary lfiltering mechanism to said overflow trough, and overiiow alarm connected to said overflow trough to indicate that the ltering capacity of either thevprimary or the auxiliary iltering mechanisms is being exceeded or that the auxiliary iiltering mechanism is over# iowing or that the depth ofoil in the said receptacle has exceeded the predetermined amount.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 27th day of June, A. D. 1924. Y

' WILLIAM W. NUGENT. 

